In the July 2 Pathfinder there was a letter to the editor claiming that Federal lands are not open to the public. Just because there is a locked gate or other road closure does NOT mean the lands beyond are not open to the public, they are, you just have to get out of your rig and walk around the gate. You just aren’t allowed to DRIVE wherever and whenever you please.
Roads are closed both year round and seasonally for multiple reasons, among them wildlife and habitat protection but also because the Forest Service doesn’t have the funds to maintain all the roads in their system. My wife and I have been retired for seven years and we specifically search out those closed roads to hike, ski, hunt and, yes, berry pick because we don’t want somebody driving up behind us while we are out enjoying the woods. There are certainly plenty of roads that ARE open to driving on that people that can’t walk far can still get out.
I’ve personally lost over 40 lbs while using those “closed” roads. In June alone we hiked 134 miles behind those gates.
Personally, I don’t believe that the Federal lands should be given to the state either. The state isn’t in any better shape financially to maintain former Federal lands given to the state. In all likelihood, it would do what other western states have done, sell them off to private entities to pay for budget shortfalls. Do we really want that to happen here in Montana?
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